by our College Data Analytics Team
[General Agriculture](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/general-agriculture/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a general agriculture degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 48 schools on the early-career earnings of their general agriculture graduates.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send general agriculture graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Leading the list is California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, our #1 for general agriculture graduate salaries in the United States. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public institution. After graduating, general agriculture degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo typically earn about $68,350 annually.
California State University Chico produces some of the highest-paid graduates in general agriculture, landing the #2 spot this year. California State University Chico is a public school located in the city of Chico. After graduating, general agriculture degree recipients from California State University Chico typically earn about $64,138 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Maryland College Park earned it the #3 place for general agriculture. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a public institution. Students who complete the general agriculture program here go on to a median salary of roughly $63,445.
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general agriculture schools. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. After graduating, general agriculture degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station typically earn about $61,337 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in general agriculture will find them at Sam Houston State University, which ranked #5. Located in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a public institution. Students who complete the general agriculture program here go on to a median salary of roughly $58,269.
North Dakota State University Main Campus came in at #6 for general agriculture graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a public institution. Early-career general agriculture graduates from North Dakota State University Main Campus make a median of around $55,828 per year.
Cornell University earned the #7 position for general agriculture graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. General Agriculture graduates of Cornell University earn a median of about $56,857 a year early in their careers.
Illinois State University landed the #8 spot for general agriculture salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a public institution. General Agriculture graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of about $64,041 a year early in their careers.
Western Illinois University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general agriculture schools. Located in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a public institution. After graduating, general agriculture degree recipients from Western Illinois University typically earn about $58,204 annually.
Texas State University San Marcos landed the #10 spot for general agriculture salaries this year. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a public institution. General Agriculture graduates of Texas State University San Marcos earn a median of about $61,972 a year early in their careers.
West Texas A And M University earned the #11 position for general agriculture graduate earnings this year. West Texas A And M University is a public school located in the town of Canyon. After graduating, general agriculture degree recipients from West Texas A And M University typically earn about $59,749 annually.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale earned the #12 position for general agriculture graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution. After graduating, general agriculture degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale typically earn about $63,031 annually.
University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #13 for general agriculture graduate earnings this year. University Of Missouri Columbia is a public school located in the city of Columbia. Early-career general agriculture graduates from University Of Missouri Columbia make a median of around $58,852 per year.
South Dakota State University landed the #14 spot for general agriculture salaries this year. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a public institution. General Agriculture graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of about $47,334 a year early in their careers.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for general agriculture. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. General Agriculture graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of about $48,514 a year early in their careers.
Fort Hays State University landed the #16 spot for general agriculture salaries this year. Located in the town of Hays, Fort Hays State University is a public institution. After graduating, general agriculture degree recipients from Fort Hays State University typically earn about $47,873 annually.
Texas A And M University Kingsville earned the #17 position for general agriculture graduate earnings this year. Texas A And M University Kingsville is a public school located in the town of Kingsville. General Agriculture graduates of Texas A And M University Kingsville earn a median of about $57,257 a year early in their careers.
Northwest Missouri State University earned the #18 position for general agriculture graduate earnings this year. Northwest Missouri State University is a public school located in the town of Maryville. General Agriculture graduates of Northwest Missouri State University earn a median of about $61,046 a year early in their careers.
Southern Utah University came in at #19 for general agriculture graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Cedar City, Southern Utah University is a public institution. Students who complete the general agriculture program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,314.
Langston University came in at #20 for general agriculture graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Langston, Langston University is a public institution. Early-career general agriculture graduates from Langston University make a median of around $45,155 per year.
The University Of Tennessee Martin came in at #21 for general agriculture graduate earnings this year. The University Of Tennessee Martin is a public school located in the town of Martin. General Agriculture graduates of The University Of Tennessee Martin earn a median of about $52,293 a year early in their careers.
Warner University earned the #22 position for general agriculture graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Lake Wales, Warner University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career general agriculture graduates from Warner University make a median of around $44,154 per year.
Oregon State University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general agriculture schools. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a public institution. Students who complete the general agriculture program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,564.
Texas A And M University Commerce earned the #24 position for general agriculture graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Commerce, Texas A And M University Commerce is a public institution. General Agriculture graduates of Texas A And M University Commerce earn a median of about $52,593 a year early in their careers.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln landed the #25 spot for general agriculture salaries this year. Located in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a public institution. General Agriculture graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of about $43,669 a year early in their careers.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid general agriculture ranking:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid General Agriculture rankings across degree levels:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their general agriculture graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 48 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
